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Corners can be awkward dead spaces at the fringes of your living room, or with a little TLC they can be transformed into adorable nooks. Not only do these make for perfect Instagram shots (we see you and we like it), but they are great spaces to cozy up with a book, your beverage of choice, or simply quiet spaces to get away from whatever the kids are watching on TV.

If you’re like us, and all the pictures of adorable reading nooks are giving you major nook-envy, it’s time to grab your living room by the corner and get the nook of your dreams. We want your nook to be as unique as you, so we put together a few different designs all showcasing nooks in different interior styles. Curl up with your blanket and get ready to fall in love with your perfect nook look!

Our favorite nooks…

Organic Sophisticate: A calming palette of moody pastels gives an edge to this organic space. Accented with glamorous touches, like that jaw-dropping porcupine quill mirror (Horchow), we imagine this space being called home by someone like Gwyneth Paltrow. We love how the natural materials interact with the subdued glam finishes for a chic and organic nook.

Mid-Century Minimalist: A nook for those who love Mid-Century Modern design and all the good things that come with it. A neutral color palette, organic shapes, and geometric forms envelope you as curl up in the Womb Chair. This iconic piece of Mid-Century Modern design was the result of a challenge to designer Eero Saarinen to make a chair Florence Knoll could curl up in. Even Modernist designers want to get cozy.

Contemporary Californian: While you don’t have to be from the Golden Coast to enjoy this one, we just couldn’t help thinking of California with this reading nook. The palette of blues and neutrals along side organic elements evokes a particularly beachy vibe, while the clean lines add a contemporary flair. We love the pairing of our Caitlin chair (Interior Define) with the organic jute rug (Pottery barn) and driftwood side table (Home Decorators Collection).

Modern Rococo: If you find yourself drawn to classic formal pieces but don’t think you could live with all that ornamentation, our Modern Rococo nook is the dreamy corner you’ve been searching for. Old school forms meet modern accents in this Provincial-esque reading nook. We paired pieces that suggest a luxurious past, like that Gleaming Primrose Mirror (Anthropologie), with contemporary accents, such as the white cowhide rug (Cowhide Imports), for a look that feels both timeless and current.

Eclectic Urbanite: A warm and inviting nook for our urban dwellers. This space is a little smaller to accommodate tighter spaces (apartments need nooks too!), and features contemporary pieces with a slightly mid-century vibe. We think this nook came together over time, giving it a slightly eclectic look. We especially like the Wool Wrap Pouf (CB2) as an impromptu footrest for cognac our Hemming Leather Swivel chair (West Elm).

What do the daybed, the chaise lounge, and my boyfriend’s hideous recliner all have in common? They are all pieces of furniture that cater towards our desire for a little rest and repose. A hybrid between sitting and lying down, lounging is the best way to read a book, watch a movie, or catch up on your beauty sleep.

To commemorate the special place this piece of furniture has in our hearts, we wanted to showcase some of our favorite pieces of lounge furniture in spaces we designed to suit multiple styles.

Here are 3 takes on the chaise lounge across the ages:

Ancient cultures: The Egyptians are credited as the original masterminds behind the chair+bed combo, which they used as a place to rest in the arid desert climate. The Greeks also loved lounging, so much so that they even ate meals in a reclined position. While we don’t recommend lounging with bowl of hummus on the Maxime Daybed (Jonathan Adler), we can’t help but think the Goddess Aphrodite would pick our Minimalist lounge scene as her preferred place for mid-day naps.

Fainting Victorian Women: In the 1800s, chaise lounges enjoyed a popular surge as important and necessary pieces inside every overstuffed Victorian living room. As all corset-wearing victorian ladies knew, the chaise lounge was the perfect landing pad for fainting spells. The Avalon Daybed (Serena & Lily) from our eclectic lounge scene, is a modern take on a French Neoclassical-style chaise lounge, making it the perfect napping spot for those dreaming of a Parisian vacation.

Hollywood Starlets: A favorite of starlets like Jean Harlow and Greta Garbo, such pieces provided the perfect place to seductively drape oneself for photos and film shoots. We love our Charade Capsule Daybed (Jonathan Adler) for all of our modern draping needs. Who wouldn’t feel like a movie star lazing atop this lush blue velvet pedestal?

Modernist Designers: The lounge was also a favorite form of Modern designers. The chaise lounge offered them a form that was functional, easily mass-produced, and (in the right hands) aesthetically pleasing. We think an Eames Lounge Chair (Design Within Reach) is the perfect place for any Mid-Century aficionado to kick back and watch Mad Men.

The chaise is a great way to fill an empty corner or bring a living room to life. We all need a place to kick back and put our feet up at the end of the day, so we designed five spaces for five unique styles. Will you be lounging in a Mid-Century Modern icon or buried beneath a plethora of eclectic throw pillows?

Portrait of Madame Récamier, Jacques-Louis David, 1800, Louvre The 1800s saw the first instances of beautiful ladies being draped over chaise lounges. Here Jacques-Louis David’s portrait depicts Parisian socialite, Juliette Récamier, lounging atop a Neoclassical style chaise lounge. This painting sparked popular interest in the piece of furniture, which is often referred to as a “récamier” even still today.

Want help designing a lounge corner in your home? We can show it to you in your space (before all the heavy lifting) with Modsy.

Rustic

A rustic lounge space is the perfect spot to snuggle up by the fireplace. A neutral color palette keeps it feeling airy while the layered rugs and brassy accents bring a touch of warmth.

Mid-Century Modern

The Eames Lounge Chair is an iconic piece of Mid-Century Modern design. Designed by Ray and Charles Eames, the piece was envisioned to have the “warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt.”

An Ode to Mary Tyler Moore and the Modern American Woman

Mary Tyler Moore, the ultimate lady hero, was an important and influential woman for a lot of people. At Modsy, we are a company founded and run by female leaders, and we would like to thank her for paving the way for us and other fierce females.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show was the first program to feature a single, independent, career-driven woman in a leading role. The show also marked one of the first instances that time prime-time TV turned an eye towards issues such as sex, birth control, and women in the workforce. Mary’s humorous, compassionate, and lively character offered a new depiction of the American Woman to her prime-time television viewers.

To celebrate Mary Tyler Moore’s legacy and her memory, we designed a modern version of her studio apartment for our twenty-first century single (and career-driven) ladies. Like Mary’s, this apartment, also set in snowy Minneapolis, has an open floor plan that is divided into a living/dining and entertaining space, a small office area, and a bedroom.

In the living room we selected a golden velvet sofa and the bold floral rug, inspired by Mary’s studio apartment on the show. We ditched the coffee table in lieu of a small cocktail table that can be used for dining and entertaining – multi-purpose pieces are important for small-space living. The two mismatched side chairs create the sense that the space was designed in pieces with objects collected over time, as the apartments of many young adults are.

Across from the living room is a small office nook, where we imagined our young career-driven dweller can study, work, or pay her or his bills on time.

For the bedroom we opted for a canopy bed to bring some drama to the space. Studio apartments mean that everything is on display – if people are going to see your bed, why not make it a statement?

Designed spaces communicate identity; our homes are not only the places where we live, but they embody elements of who we are. In the mid-twentieth century, apart from Mary Tyler Moore and her studio apartment, the only other depiction of women and their homes in the media was of the suburban housewife. By contrast, the alternative home-based identity for males was that of the single, heterosexual bachelor who lived in his trendy, urban penthouse.

A little seating nook hidden behind the dividing bookcase offers a private space for reading or relaxing with a glass of wine after a work day.

Images of such “bachelor pads” were showcased in Playboy Magazine alongside centerfolds of naked women. These were dwellings created for the educated, tech-savvy, elite male with ample disposable income and sex appeal. Mary Tyler Moore, by comparison, was also a single woman, living in an urban area, and focused on her career rather than finding a husband. Her home, as a trendy studio apartment communicates this, and she provides the female role model to her male, bachelor counterpart. Like the playboy bachelor pad, Mary’s home is open, designed for entertaining, and full of an eclectic mix of Mid-Century Modern and more traditional furnishings.

We love Mary Tyler Moore and are continuously inspired by her go-getter, boss lady attitude. Thank you Mary for being the incredible woman that you were, and for paving the way for the rest of us. Together we are going to make it after all.

Eat your greenery. Or sit on it. Both have equally curative powers according to Pantone, who named this particularly leafy shade its 2017 color of the year. A symbol of new beginnings, the zesty, yellow-green hue is all about reconnecting, refreshing, rejuvenating, restoring, and pretty much any other “re-word” you can think of.

But if this tangy green reminds you more of Kermit the Frog than a vegetable garden, you’re not alone. While not eagerly hoping on the greenery bandwagon ourselves, we tried embracing the color for its symbolic, rather than purely aesthetic value.

Amid our current tumultuous social and political climate, Pantone chose greenery as a means to encourage “green” ways of thinking and living. Pantone suggests that the shade can inspire us to reconnect with nature as we disconnect with technology and promote green ways of thinking in respect to such things as design, energy, and even diet for the coming year. Kale yeah!

At Modsy we know that our environments shape our experiences, so we are taking a stab at incorporating some greenery into our domain. So if you can’t swing a spur-of-the-moment vacation to Airbnb’s Outside In London loft, we invite you to relax and photosynthesize inside our greenhouse garden retreat.

One of the greatest challenges people face when designing their space, is choosing a color palette. There’s the sofa, the rug, the throw pillows, the wall color… so many variables to account for that it makes the process overwhelming. So if you suffer from decidophobia or just want to give your space an air of design confidence, try on the idea of a monochromatic living space.

Why do we love this look? The matching sofa and wall color combo envelope your space in color and create a sense of luxury. There is a sort of “casual drama” to the look, as the heavy saturation pushes dramatic, while the lack of contrast pulls minimal. Less visual information for the brain to digest, the monochromatic palette promotes pattern and texture from sidekicks to stars.

Even on an overcast, wintery day you still have a fabulous view of the city from international intelligence agent, Jane Bond’s penthouse. A luxe array of materials, iconic furniture, and every shade of black and white harmonize inside this industrial chic living room, where we got a chance to sit down and chat with the fierce female, herself.

Modsy: Last time we saw you, you were hopping on a plane to Paris. What’s changed since then?

Jane Bond: Wow time flies! It feels like nothing and everything all at once. My French has improved immensely and I’ve finally finished designing this space.

Modsy: Your style has been described as a “feminine” take on a masculine aesthetic. Do you see it that way?

Jane Bond: I love industrial spaces, but I also crave things that sparkle. The industrial look is definitely one that gets attributed to a more “masculine” or rugged style, but I like to think I’m taking ownership and making it into something new that can be both soft and hard, masculine and feminine. Us ladies like concrete and leather, too!

Modsy: Can you give us a little insight into the design and styling of this room, in particular?

Jane Bond: I’ve been chasing this idea of the optimal entertaining environment. I love hosting gatherings, so I wanted to curate a space that catered to that need. The room is large, and I’ve filled it with lots of seating to create gathering spaces and little nooks for more intimate conversations. The overall look is a sort of glamorous take on the industrial aesthetic that you previously mentioned. I love re-articulating those two styles, which most people might see as opposites, and creating a space where they harmonize in this new, unexpected way.

Modsy: Can you give us an example?

Jane Bond: Animal print. When you think cheetah spots or zebra stripes, they’re not usually associated with concrete or metal. In this space, I strive to combine those two opposites in a way that feels unexpectedly familiar. Take this rug for example or that tessellated zebra artwork. They are both pieces that might easily get labeled as very glamorous or “girly,” but here they add this texture and subtle feminine statement to the space. That’s what I absolutely love, the subdued drama.

Modsy: How have your many travels played a role in shaping your design aesthetic?

Jane Bond: While I’m not really one to bring home souvenirs (and let’s face it, I don’t often have time for sightseeing), traveling to so many places has given me a crash course in design and iconic pieces of furniture. I love seeing the ways culture and personality are communicated through interiors, and I think that idea is really present in my home.

Modsy: What is your favorite piece you own and why?

Jane Bond: Oh wow… That’s so hard to say, but right now I’m really loving my Animal Study print from Natural Curiosities. It’s just another beautiful example of this idea of taking a familiar form and translating it into something unexpected. And the orange brings just a touch of warmth to this otherwise very cool space.

Modsy: Is there anything exciting that you are working on at the moment that you can tell us about?

Jane Bond: Laughs. You know I can’t give any details, but let’s just say I need to renew my passport.

Inspired by Jane’s home, we’ve created a collection that encapsulates her industrial chic aesthetic. Shop all the products in this collection below, or see it in your space with Modsy

Freshly back from a trip to Granada, the tranquil city in southern Spain, we found ourselves struck by a case of the “post-vacation blues.” Rather than toting home souvenir keychains or t-shirts to remind us of our travels, we decided to bring our vacation home with us in the form of interior inspiration.

When you step inside this Spanish Colonial revival bungalow, you will find a warm and inviting living space comprised of whitewashed walls, natural woods, neutral fabrics, pops of bold color, and Moorish touches. Our vision came from the rich heritage of Islamic influence in Andalucia region of Spain, especially evident in Granada’s magnificent “palace-city” Alhambra.

As such, this is an interior heavily inspired by architecture, particularly that of the Alhambra’s Salön de Comares with its splendidly delicate marquetry ceiling. Comprised of over eight thousand individual pieces of cedarwood, the ceiling is an architectural and artistic marvel.

To incorporate this aesthetic into our bungalow, we started with a neutral base of hearty and inviting furniture. We then layered in accessories and accents with a distinctly Alhambra-esque aesthetic. Geometry is the star of the show. Look for pieces with lots of pattern, intricately carved wood, and tesselated mosaic tiles. Natural materials should abound: opt for wood, marble, linen, wool, and gold to keep the environment feeling organic. And, finally, choose accessories with vibrant colors that skew towards the primaries to keep the space feeling warm and invigorated.

A collection designed especially for Modsy’s Contemporary Collectors, Rustic Travelers, and Traditional Collectors, we love the idea of bringing your trip home with you in the form of some interior inspiration. Not sure what your Modsy style is? Take our Style Quiz to find out.

At Modsy we know that living rooms, just like snowflakes and people, come in all shapes and sizes. We know it can be a challenge trying to find a layout that works for your unique space. To help, we rearranged our London loft and created three different takes on a conversational layout.

Today we are taking shelter from the rain inside this enchanting London loft space. The refined shapes and classical forms are the perfect pairing for this industrial living room interior.

For the Casual Conversationalist: A Layout that Flows

For this version of our living space, we created a layout that is all about the flow. We floated the sofa in front of the windows where it faces two chairs, angled inward. In the middle, we opted for a rectangular coffee table on wheels. The larger surface area puts everyone within reach of the coffee table, and the wheels allow you to move it easily, either within the seating arrangement or out of the way completely. This layout is conversational and encourages easy movement through the space. Great for both entertaining and every-day living, it is a layout that quite literally lets you talk the talk and walk the walk.

For the Dinner Party Host: A Fiercely Formal Layout

If you find yourself craving a traditional look, we created a second layout for you that colors inside the lines for a fabulous result. Symmetrical and balanced, this space offers more seating with two sofas facing inward and capped by two armchairs at the end. We selected a trunk coffee table, which unlike our more portable glass table, conveys solidity and underscores the formal symmetry of the space. This option offers you a living room that is structured and facilitates conversation, even as it creates a space that feels formal and intentionally designed.

For the Multi-Tasker: A Flexible Layout

Less formally designed, our flexible layout is a great way to open up your living space and use it in different ways. One of our favorite interior design tricks is creating the sense of rooms within rooms. Here we placed the sofa in the middle and used it as a divider to create two distinct spaces within our living room. The seating area is now smaller, and feels more intimate and personal. We chose a round coffee table because the organic shape easily snuggles into the asymmetrical conversation nook. Behind the sofa we created an open storage area, but you can also use the space for a home office, dining area, or yoga studio. A great way to make your space feel more open, this layout is for the dweller of small spaces who wants to use their space in a creative way.

Rather than honing in on a specific type or style of room, today we are offering up some knowledge on how to incorporate your style into a specific part of your home. The console table, whether you place it in your entryway, in your living room, or behind your sofa, is the perfect place to display a few of your favorite things!

To show you some tips and tricks, we picked one console table and three of our favorite styles – Hollywood Glam, Mid Century Modern, and Eclectic – and set to work designing a look for each. For our base, we chose west elm’s Terrace Console. Open and airy, this option works well in a variety of spaces and with many styles. We painted the walls with Ebony King from Benjamin Moore, a moody navy-charcoal hue that also accompanies a variety of styles nicely. Let’s get to styling…

A style bubbling with personality, Hollywood Glam encapsulates everything bold and dramatic. Hollywood Glam is all about the statement pieces, so we opted for colors, materials, and patterns that were unique and luxurious. The pink velvet Elowen armchair (Anthropologie) pops against the Ebony King wall, and the gold tapered legs harmonize with the frame of our Terrace Console. In front, we placed a green malachite patterned rug (Anthropologie) to bring some texture to the scene, and to crown the vignette, we hung a gold lace artwork from Jonathan Adler above the console.

Stylist Tip: To create a scene with just the right amount of over-the-top, keep the styling formal and symmetrical.

A style inspired by mid-twentieth-century design, the Mid Century Modern aesthetic champions bold colors, graphic patterns, and organic forms. To make our glass and gold console work, we opted for accent pieces with a Mid-Century vibe. Geometry and organic shapes/materials are your friends. The Moller Model 55 armchair and Eames Stool (Design Within Reach) are both iconic pieces of Mid Century Modern design. We then layered in accent pieces with bold colors and graphic designs. We especially love the As Collective, Sun V (One Kings Lane) artwork and Ibex sculpture (Jonathan Adler), which bring a note of Mid Century whimsy to the scene.

Eclectic is a style that enjoys breaking the rules. Comprised of an informal mix of furnishings and decor from a wide variety of styles, the eclectic interior feels organic and unexpected. For this scene we were striving for a more bohemian vibe, and picked pieces with lots of texture and an earthy color palette. To underscore the eclectic nature of the space, we worked in a few tricks for creating an unexpected vibe. Try pushing the console off the wall and hanging a large tapestry behind it, or prop a statement piece of art on the floor next to it.